Difference between revisions of "HowTo:Provide system definitions with a custom plugin"

Latest revision as of 11:09, 28 February 2025

This tutorial explains how to provide any kind of preconfigured UBIK^® system definitions using a custom plugin (or more specific: module).

General concept

When rolling out a UBIK^® customizing into a (productive) environment, there is always the challenge regarding the transportation of the data model and basic data. The sustainable solution is to deliver versioned packages of system definitions in plugins, because that allows for easy deployment and upgrade, and for the direct application of state-of-the-art software development strategies for plugin development.

UBIK^® plugins are detected when an Environment is initialized, and the user is prompted with a database upgrade if necessary. The technical maintenance of the database is automatic and allows for arbitrary adaptations. The plugin developer can decide whether to make meta definitions immutable (as system design objects in the System namespace) or further customizable by the user (as regular content). Custom scripts can be executed every time the Environment is connected or just during an upgrade.

Prerequisites

To understand the code, knowledge about the UBIK^® ER-model and the plugin injection mechanism is required.

Instructions

[edit]

Big Picture
Create a new plugin
Create a new SystemDefinitionProvider
Create a new SystemDefinitions package
Add a new basic MetaClass
Add a new special MetaClass
Add new arbitrary instances
Provide a version upgrade
Create a new MetaProxy
Create a system classification
Create a system SelectiveList
Perform pre- or postprocessing scripts
Create a custom InterfaceAdmin

Big Picture

The Module implementation hosts a System Definition Provider, which in turn gives access to a set of versioned System Definitions. The latter can contain any kind of UBIK^® data like MetaClasses, MetaProperties, instances of any type and scripts to execute when the package is installed or initialized.

Create a new plugin

The plugin class is the central access point for your definitions. It must implement the IUbikModule interface for the system definitions to be applied.

Plugin template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
[Export(typeof(UBIK.Injection.IUbikPlugin))]
[ExportMetadata("ID", "e9395ebd-4e41-40a3-9ac6-01bce6fb7e68")]
[ExportMetadata("Type", typeof(MyPlugin))]
[ExportMetadata("Name", "MyPlugin")]
[ExportMetadata("Description", "My custom plugin")]
[ExportMetadata("Version", 1)]
[ExportMetadata("Company", "Augmensys GmbH")]
[ExportMetadata("MinimumKernelVersion", "4.0.0.0")]
public class MyPlugin: IUbikModule
{
public static Guid ID
{
get
{
return Guid.Parse("e9395ebd-4e41-40a3-9ac6-01bce6fb7e68");
}
}

public UBIKEnvironment Environment { get; private set; }

public ISystemDefinitionProvider SystemDefinitionsProvider
{
get
{
return MySystemDefinitionProvider.Instance;
}
}

public virtual void Initialize(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
this.Environment = environment;
}

public virtual void Terminate()
{
this.Environment = null;
}

public virtual bool Initialized()
{
return this.Environment != null;
}

public List<ModuleInfo> DependencyModules
{
get;
} = new List<ModuleInfo>();
}
}

Create a new SystemDefinitionProvider

The SystemDefinitionProvider has a list of all supported system definitions packages. The base implementation uses the version information from the packages to handle the upgrading.

SystemDefinitionsProvider template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitionProvider : SystemDefinitionProviderBase
{
public override Guid ModuleID => MyPlugin.ID;

private static MySystemDefinitionProvider instance = null;

public static MySystemDefinitionProvider Instance
{
get
{
return instance ?? (instance = new MySystemDefinitionProvider());
}
}

private MySystemDefinitionProvider() :
base(
new MySystemDefinitions_V100(),
new MySystemDefinitions_V110())
{ }
}
}

Create a new SystemDefinitions package

The SystemDefinitions contain any data you may want to deliver with your plugin.

SystemDefinitions package template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
{
#region Constants

public static readonly Version VERSION = new Version(1, 0, 0, 0);

#endregion Constants

#region Version

public override Version Version
{
get
{
return VERSION;
}
}

#endregion Version

#region System Classifications

public override UBIKClassList<MetaClass> DefineSystemClassifications(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
return new UBIKClassList<MetaClass>();
}

#endregion System Classifications

#region System Meta Classes

public override UBIKClassList<MetaClass> DefineSystemMetaClasses(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<MetaClass> metaClasses = new UBIKClassList<MetaClass>();
return metaClasses;
}

#endregion System Meta Classes

#region System Meta Properties

public override UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> DefineSystemMetaProperties(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> result = new UBIKClassList<MetaProperty>();
return result;
}

#endregion System Meta Properties

#region System Selective Lists

public override UBIKClassList<SelectiveList> DefineSystemSelectiveLists(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<SelectiveList> result = new UBIKClassList<SelectiveList>();
return result;
}

#endregion System Selective Lists

#region Module Definition

public override void UpdateSystemContent(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UpdateModuleDefinition(environment);
}

protected void UpdateModuleDefinition(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
MetaClass moduleMc = environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.MODULE);
BaseClass module = moduleMc.GetOrCreateInstance(MyPlugin.ID);
module.Name = "MyPlugin";
module.Namespace = "MyPlugin";
if (environment.LanguageManager.TryGetLanguageIndex("de", out int idxDe))
{
module.SetInternationalDescription(idxDe, "UBIK Plugin Vorlage. (C) Augmensys GmbH");
}
if (environment.LanguageManager.TryGetLanguageIndex("en", out int idxEn))
{
module.SetInternationalDescription(idxEn, "UBIK template plugin. (C) Augmensys GmbH");
}
module.Save();
}

#endregion Module Definition
}
}

Add a new basic MetaClass

Here's how you can add a new MetaClass (and MetaProperty) to be shipped with your plugin.

SystemDesignMetaClass template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MyBaseMetaClass : SystemDesignMetaClass
{
public static readonly Guid UID = Guid.Parse("30ed406b-a5f1-498b-ad34-2db1bd786b13");

private const string NAME = "MY_BASECLASS";
private const string NAMESPACE = "System.MyPlugin";
private const string DESCRIPTION = "My Baseclass";

public MyBaseMetaClass(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
InitUidAndEnvironment(UID, environment);
InitStrings(NAME, NAMESPACE, DESCRIPTION);

SetModuleId(MyPlugin.ID);

DefineMetaProperties(new List<Guid>() {
MyMetaProperties.PROPERTY_UID_MYPROPERTY
});
}

public override MetaClass Inheritance
{
get
{
return this.Environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.NAMEDBASECLASS);
}
set
{
// do nothing
}
}

public override MetaClassTypes ClassType
{
get
{
return MetaClassTypes.Inherited;
}
set
{
// do nothing
}
}
}
}

SystemDesignMetaProperty template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MyMetaProperties
{
public const string NS_MY_PLUGIN = "System.MyPlugin";

public static readonly Guid PROPERTY_UID_MYPROPERTY = Guid.Parse("d90b50e0-17d9-40ac-b89d-18f4a01cd5cb");
public const string PROPERTY_NAME_MYPROPERTY = "LK_LOCATION";

public static UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> DefineSystemMetaProperties(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
MetaProperty myProperty = SystemDesignMetaProperty.CreateStringSystemDesignMetaProperty
(environment, PROPERTY_NAME_MYPROPERTY, NS_MY_PLUGIN, PROPERTY_UID_MYPROPERTY, multiLang: false, orderID: 0, stringLen: 0);
myProperty.Description = "MyProperty";

UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> metaProperties = new UBIKClassList<MetaProperty>() {
myProperty
};

return metaProperties;
}
}
}

SystemDefinitions adaptations

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
{
// ...

#region System Meta Classes

public override UBIKClassList<MetaClass> DefineSystemMetaClasses(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<MetaClass> metaClasses = new UBIKClassList<MetaClass>();

MyBaseMetaClass myBaseClass = new MyBaseMetaClass(environment);
metaClasses.Add(myBaseClass);

return metaClasses;
}

#endregion System Meta Classes

#region System Meta Properties

public override UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> DefineSystemMetaProperties(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> result = new UBIKClassList<MetaProperty>();
result.AddRangeUnique(MyMetaProperties.DefineSystemMetaProperties(environment));
return result;
}

#endregion System Meta Properties

// ...
}
}

Add a new special MetaClass

In some cases you need to defined something more elaborate, e.g., a MetaClass with custom code deriving from another MetaClass you defined.

SystemDesignMetaClass template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySpecialMetaClass : SystemDesignMetaClass
{
public static readonly Guid UID = Guid.Parse("0925ad66-7199-4e70-871c-cdd799f8d8e7");

private const string NAME = "MY_SEPCIALCLASS";
private const string NAMESPACE = "System.MyPlugin";
private const string DESCRIPTION = "My special class";

private MyBaseMetaClass parent = null;

public MySpecialMetaClass(UBIKEnvironment environment, MyBaseMetaClass parent)
{
InitUidAndEnvironment(UID, environment);
InitStrings(NAME, NAMESPACE, DESCRIPTION);

SetModuleId(MyPlugin.ID);

this.parent = parent;

DefineMetaProperties(new List<Guid>() {
// ...
});
}

public override MetaClass Inheritance
{
get
{
return this.parent;
}
set
{
// do nothing
}
}

public override MetaClassTypes ClassType
{
get
{
return MetaClassTypes.DEFINED_IN_PLUGIN;
}
set
{
// do nothing
}
}

public override Type GetRuntimeType()
{
return typeof(MySpecialType);
}

public override Type GetSystemRuntimeType()
{
return typeof(MySpecialType);
}
}
}

Special runtime type template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySpecialType : ContentClass
{
// This implementation will be used to instantiate respective instances in UBIK during runtime.
// Here you can override anything that can be overridden in UBIK.Studio's code editor, and more.
// Additional code may be added, too.
}
}

SystemDefinitions adaptations

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
{
// ...

#region System Meta Classes

protected MyBaseMetaClass MyBaseMetaClass { get; set; }
protected MySpecialMetaClass MySpecialMetaClass { get; set; }

public override UBIKClassList<MetaClass> DefineSystemMetaClasses(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<MetaClass> metaClasses = new UBIKClassList<MetaClass>();

MyBaseMetaClass = new MyBaseMetaClass(environment);
metaClasses.Add(MyBaseMetaClass);

MySpecialMetaClass = new MySpecialMetaClass(environment, MyBaseMetaClass);
metaClasses.Add(MySpecialMetaClass);

return metaClasses;
}

#endregion System Meta Classes

// ...
}
}

Add new arbitrary instances

In some cases you may want to deliver instances of an arbitrary type the user can change to their liking.

SystemDefinitions adaptations

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
{
public static readonly Guid DEFAULT_INSTANCE_UID = Guid.Parse("a71c2c7e-a7b7-4462-b1c8-61ea9cba0dcd");

// ...

#region System Content

public override void UpdateSystemContent(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
MySpecialType defaultInstance = MySpecialMetaClass.GetOrCreateInstance(DEFAULT_INSTANCE_UID) as MySpecialType;
if (defaultInstance.IsNewInstance)
{
defaultInstance.Namespace = "MyPlugin.Default";
defaultInstance.Name = "MySpecialInstance";
defaultInstance.Description = "Default instance";
defaultInstance.Save();
}
}

#endregion System Content

// ...
}
}

Provide a version upgrade

If you released system definitions previously, which are already used productively, how do you deliver changes? The solution is to not change the older version, but create a newer version instead. We always want to stay downward compatible.

SystemDefinitions adaptations

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V110 : MySystemDefinitions_V100
{
#region Constants

public static readonly Version VERSION = new Version(1, 1, 0, 0);

#endregion Constants

#region Version

public override Version Version
{
get
{
return VERSION;
}
}

#endregion Version

// ...

#region System Meta Classes

// Refactor MySystemDefinitions_V100 so the "MyBaseMetaClass" is defined in a separate method, so we can override it!
public override MyBaseMetaClass DefineMyBaseMetaClass(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
MyBaseMetaClass mc = new MyBaseMetaClass_V110(environment);
// MyBaseMetaClass_V110 should derive from the original MyBaseMetaClass, adapting it to the new version
return mc;
}

#endregion System Meta Classes

// ...
}
}

Create a new MetaProxy

MetaProxies are managed very similarly to MetaClasses, but the MetaProxyProperties are slightly more complex because they require additional information like the UIDs for the import and export versions of itself, the target property in UBIK^®, etc.

SystemDesignMetaProxy template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MyProxyMetaClass : SystemDesignMetaProxy
{
public static Guid UID = GuidUtility.MY_PROXY;
private const string NAME = "MYPROXY";
private const string NAMESPACE = "System.MyPlugin";
private const string DESCRIPTION = "My meta proxy";

public MyProxyMetaClass(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
InitUidAndEnvironment(UID, environment);
InitStrings(NAME, NAMESPACE, DESCRIPTION);

SetModuleId(MyPlugin.ID);

List<Guid> metaProperties = new List<Guid>();
// regular meta properties
DefineMetaProperties(metaProperties);

List<MetaProxyPropertyInfo> metaProxyPropertyInfos = new List<MetaProxyPropertyInfo>();
metaProxyPropertyInfos.Add(new MetaProxyPropertyInfo(environment, MyProxyMetaProperties.PROXY_PROPERTY_UID_MYPROPERTY, true, -1, ProxyUpdateModes.BiDirectional, MyMetaProperties.PROPERTY_UID_MYPROPERTY, "My property"));

DefineMetaProxyProperties(metaProxyPropertyInfos);
}

public override MetaClass MetaClass
{
get
{
return this.Environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.METAPROXY);
}
}

public override MetaClass Inheritance
{
get
{
return this.Environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.PROXY_ROOT);
}
set
{
// do nothing
}
}

public override MetaClassTypes ClassType
{
get
{
return MetaClassTypes.Proxy;
}
set
{
// do nothing
}
}
}
}

SystemDesignMetaProxyProperty template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MyMetaProxyProperties
{
public const string NS_MY_PLUGIN = "System.MyPlugin";
public const int STR_LEN_MED = 255;

public static UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> DefineSystemMetaProperties(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> metaProperties = new UBIKClassList<MetaProperty>();

SystemDesignMetaProxyProperty myMetaProxyProperty = new SystemDesignMetaProxyProperty(environment,
GuidUtility.MPP_MYPROPERTY, // assuming the ids are documented in a class GuidUtility
MyMetaProperties.PROPERTY_NAME_MYPROPERTY,
NAMESPACE,
PropertyTypes.String,
GuidUtility.MPP_MYPROPERTY_VIRTUAL_PROPERTIES[0],
GuidUtility.MPP_MYPROPERTY_VIRTUAL_PROPERTIES[1]);
myMetaProxyProperty.MetaAttribute = environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.PROXYATTRIBUTE);
myMetaProxyProperty.SetStringLen(STR_LEN_MED);
proxyProperties.Add(myMetaProxyProperty);

return metaProperties;
}
}
}

SystemDefinitions adaptations

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
{
// ...

#region System Meta Classes

public override UBIKClassList<MetaClass> DefineSystemMetaClasses(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<MetaClass> metaClasses = new UBIKClassList<MetaClass>();

MyProxyMetaClass myBaseClass = new MyProxyMetaClass(environment);
metaClasses.Add(myBaseClass);

return metaClasses;
}

#endregion System Meta Classes

#region System Meta Properties

public override UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> DefineSystemMetaProperties(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<MetaProperty> result = new UBIKClassList<MetaProperty>();
result.AddRangeUnique(MyMetaProxyProperties.DefineSystemMetaProperties(environment));
return result;
}

#endregion System Meta Properties

// ...
}
}

Create a system classification

Here's an example for the definition of a system classification.

SystemClassification template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MyClassification : SystemClassification
{
public static Guid GUID = new Guid("aa9cc5cb-f676-4b60-b39d-eab7a8bcc66e");

public MyClassification(UBIKEnvironment environment)
: base(GUID, environment)
{
this.CodedName = "MYCLS";
this.CodedNamespace = "System.MyPlugin";
this.CodedDescription = "My classification";

// Derives from SystemDesignMetaClass, see above for metaproperty definition
}
}
}

SystemDefinitions adaptations

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
{
// ...

#region System Classifications

public override UBIKClassList<MetaClass> DefineSystemClassifications(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
return new UBIKClassList<MetaClass>()
{
new MyClassification(environment)
};
}

#endregion System Classifications

// ...
}
}

Create a system SelectiveList

Here's an example for the definition of a system selective list.

SystemDefinitions adaptations

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
{
// ...

#region System Selective Lists

public override UBIKClassList<SelectiveList> DefineSystemSelectiveLists(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
UBIKClassList<SelectiveList> selectiveLists = new UBIKClassList<SelectiveList>();

// MyEnumType should be an integer enum
SystemSelectiveList fromEnum = new SystemSelectiveList(environment, typeof(MyEnumType));
fromEnum.SetUID(GuidUtility.SLFROMENUM);
selectiveLists.Add(fromEnum);

SystemSelectiveList customList = new SystemSelectiveList(environment);
customList.SetItemValueType(PropertyTypes.String);
customList.AddSelectiveItem("any object of supported type", "description");
customList.Name = "SL_STR";
customList.SetUID(GuidUtility.SLSTR);
selectiveLists.Add(customList);

return selectiveLists;
}

#endregion System Selective Lists

// ...
}
}

Perform pre- or postprocessing scripts

In some cases, one has to perform an action before the database is adjusted, or postprocess the upgrade. It is also possible to execute code whenever the environment is initialized, even if no upgrade was necessary.

Scripting template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
{
// ...

public override void PreProcessDatabaseUpdate(Version previousVersion, UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
base.PreProcessDatabaseUpdate(previousVersion, environment);

// This code will be executed whenever the system is upgraded,
// before a schema upgrade for this SystemDefinitions package
}

public override void PostProcessDatabaseUpdate(Version previousVersion, UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
base.PostProcessDatabaseUpdate(previousVersion, environment);

// This code will be executed whenever the system is upgraded,
// after a schema upgrade and before content initialization and upgrade
// for this SystemDefinitions package
}

public override void InitializeSystemContent(UBIKEnvironment env)
{
base.InitializeSystemContent(env);

// This code will be executed whenever the system is initialized,
// after an optional schema upgrade and before an optional content adaptation
// for this SystemDefinitions package
}

public override void UpdateSystemContent(UBIKEnvironment env)
{
base.UpdateSystemContent(env);

// This code will be executed whenever the system is upgraded,
// after all other steps for this SystemDefinitions package
}

// ...
}
}

Create a custom InterfaceAdmin

This is one of the most complex things you can do in this topic. That's because an InterfaceAdmin object has the following interesting aspects:

It is an instance of the INTERFACE_ADMIN (Meta)MetaClass
It is a MetaClass itself
A custom implementation must derive from the INTERFACE_ADMIN_ROOT
It produces special instances called InterfaceExecution
Any functional InterfaceAdmin runtime object must be an instance of InterfaceAdministration

The last point is crucial, because this makes our task difficult. After all, we use SystemDesignMetaClass to define MetaClasses, and this directly conflicts with the last requirement. The way to solve this is to deliver a non-functional class we only use as a basis, and then derive a regular object from it.

InterfaceAdmin template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MyInterfaceAdminBase : SystemDesignMetaClass
{
public static new Guid UID = GuidUtility.INTERFACE_ADMIN_UID_BASE;
private const string NAME = "BASE_IFA";
private const string NAMESPACE = "System.MyPlugin.Interface.Administration";
private const string DESCRIPTION = "Base Class of Custom Interface Admin";

public MyInterfaceAdminBase(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
InitUidAndEnvironment(UID, environment);
InitStrings(NAME, NAMESPACE, DESCRIPTION);

SetModuleId(MyPlugin.ID);

List<Guid> metaProperties = new List<Guid>();
DefineMetaProperties(metaProperties);
}

public override MetaClass MetaClass
{
get
{
// The current class is an instance of the Interface Admin MetaClass; an individual Interface Administration object.
return this.Environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.INTERFACE_ADMINISTRATION);
}
}

public override MetaClass Inheritance
{
get
{
// The current class derives from the default Interface Admin, which is also the MetaClass of all Interface Execution objects.
// Likewise, the current class is a MetaClass for Interface Execution objects.
return this.Environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.INTERFACE_EXECUTION);
}
set
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}

public override MetaClassTypes ClassType
{
get
{
return MetaClassTypes.DEFINED_IN_PLUGIN;
}
set
{
// do nothing
}
}

public override string RuntimeTypeName => GetRuntimeType().FullName;

public override string SystemRuntimeTypeName => GetSystemRuntimeType().FullName;

public override Type GetSystemRuntimeType()
{
return typeof(MyInterfaceExecution);
}

public override Type GetRuntimeType()
{
return typeof(MyInterfaceExecution);
}

// Required for MetaClasses that have a very special MetaClass themselves
protected override MetaClass DeliverMetaMetaClassInstance()
{
return MetaClass;
}
}
}

InterfaceExecution runtime type template code

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin.InterfaceExecutors
{
public class MyInterfaceExecution : InterfaceExecution
{
protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetExternalDataReader()
{
return new ThirdPartySystemWebAPIClientReader(Environment);
}

protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetExternalDataWriter()
{
return new ThirdPartySystemWebAPIClientWriter(Environment);
}

protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetExternalPollingExecutor()
{
return new ThirdPartySystemWebAPIClientPoller(Environment);
}

protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetExportExecutor()
{
return new MyExportExecutor(Environment);
}

protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetImportExecutor()
{
return new MyImportExecutor(Environment);
}
}
}

SystemDefinitions adaptations

namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
{
public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
{
// ...

#region System Content

public override void UpdateSystemContent(UBIKEnvironment environment)
{
base.UpdateSystemContent(environment);

// Create our own custom interface admin from the base class we described.
MetaClass mc = environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.INTERFACE_ADMINISTRATION);
InterfaceAdministration ifa = environment.UBIKDataFactory().GetBaseObject(mc, GuidUtility.INTERFACE_ADMIN_UID_CUSTOM) as InterfaceAdministration;
if (ifa == null)
{
ifa = (InterfaceAdministration)environment.UBIKDataFactory().MetaClass(GuidUtility.INTERFACE_ADMIN_UID_BASE).CreateNewDerivate(GuidUtility.INTERFACE_ADMIN_UID_CUSTOM);
ifa.Name = "MY_IFA";
ifa.Description = "Custom Interface Admin";
ifa.Namespace = "Custom.MyPlugin.Interface.Administration";
ifa.ClassType = MetaClassTypes.Inherited;
ifa.Save();
}

Relationship relation = environment.GetSystemRelation(SystemObjects.RELATION_INTERFACE_ADMIN_METAPROXY);
MetaProxy target = (MetaProxy)environment.UBIKDataFactory().MetaClass(GuidUtility.MY_PROXY);
if(ifa.IsAddRelationAllowed(relation, target))
{
ifa.AddRelation(relation, target);
ifa.Save();
}
}

#endregion System Content

// ...
}
}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+This tutorial explains how to provide any kind of preconfigured {{UBIK}} system definitions using a custom plugin (or more specific: module).
-This tutorial explains how to provide any kind of preconfigured {{UBIK}} data (system definitions) using a custom plugin.
 == General concept ==
@@ Line 9: / Line 7: @@
 {{UBIK}} plugins are detected when an Environment is initialized, and the user is prompted with a database upgrade if necessary. The technical maintenance of the database is automatic and allows for arbitrary adaptations.
-The plugin developer can decide whether to make meta definitions immutable or further customizable by the user. Custom scripts can be executed everytime the Environment is connected or just during an upgrade.
+The plugin developer can decide whether to make meta definitions immutable (as system design objects in the System namespace) or further customizable by the user (as regular content). Custom scripts can be executed every time the Environment is connected or just during an upgrade.
 == Prerequisites ==
-To understand the code, knowledge about the {{UBIK}} ER-model and the plugin injection mechanism is required.
+To understand the code, knowledge about the {{UBIK}} [[Entity_Data_Model|ER-model]] and the [[Injection_Management|plugin injection mechanism]] is required.
-[[Category:How-To|Provide system definitions with a custom plugin]]
-[[Category:Module|Provide system definitions with a custom plugin]]
 == Instructions ==
@@ Line 24: / Line 19: @@
 = Big Picture =
-The Plugin hosts a SystemDefinitionProvider, which in turn gives access to a set of versioned SystemDefinitions. The latter can contain any kind of {{UBIK}} data like MetaClasses, MetaProperties, instances of any type and scripts to execute when the package is installed or initialized.
+The Module implementation hosts a System Definition Provider, which in turn gives access to a set of versioned System Definitions. The latter can contain any kind of {{UBIK}} data like MetaClasses, MetaProperties, instances of any type and scripts to execute when the package is installed or initialized.
 [[File:Systemdefinitions2.drawio.png]]
@@ Line 297: / Line 292: @@
      public class MyMetaProperties
      {
-         public const string NS_MY_PLUGIN = "System.MyPlugin;
+         public const string NS_MY_PLUGIN = "System.MyPlugin";
          public static readonly Guid PROPERTY_UID_MYPROPERTY = Guid.Parse("d90b50e0-17d9-40ac-b89d-18f4a01cd5cb");
@@ Line 713: / Line 708: @@
          #endregion System Meta Properties
+        // ...
+    }
+}
+</syntaxhighlight>
+</div></div>
+= Create a system classification =
+Here's an example for the definition of a system classification.
+<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%; overflow:auto;">
+<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">SystemClassification template code</div>
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
+<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
+namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
+{
+    public class MyClassification : SystemClassification
+    {
+        public static Guid GUID = new Guid("aa9cc5cb-f676-4b60-b39d-eab7a8bcc66e");
+        public MyClassification(UBIKEnvironment environment)
+            : base(GUID, environment)
+        {
+            this.CodedName = "MYCLS";
+            this.CodedNamespace = "System.MyPlugin";
+            this.CodedDescription = "My classification";
+            // Derives from SystemDesignMetaClass, see above for metaproperty definition
+        }
+    }
+}
+</syntaxhighlight>
+</div></div>
+<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%; overflow:auto;">
+<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">SystemDefinitions adaptations</div>
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
+<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
+namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
+{
+    public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
+    {
+        // ...
+        #region System Classifications
+        public override UBIKClassList<MetaClass> DefineSystemClassifications(UBIKEnvironment environment)
+        {
+            return new UBIKClassList<MetaClass>()
+            {
+                new MyClassification(environment)
+            };
+        }
+        #endregion System Classifications
+        // ...
+    }
+}
+</syntaxhighlight>
+</div></div>
+= Create a system SelectiveList =
+Here's an example for the definition of a system selective list.
+<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%; overflow:auto;">
+<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">SystemDefinitions adaptations</div>
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
+<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
+namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
+{
+    public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
+    {
+        // ...
+        #region System Selective Lists
+        public override UBIKClassList<SelectiveList> DefineSystemSelectiveLists(UBIKEnvironment environment)
+        {
+            UBIKClassList<SelectiveList> selectiveLists = new UBIKClassList<SelectiveList>();
+            // MyEnumType should be an integer enum
+            SystemSelectiveList fromEnum = new SystemSelectiveList(environment, typeof(MyEnumType));
+            fromEnum.SetUID(GuidUtility.SLFROMENUM);
+            selectiveLists.Add(fromEnum);
+            SystemSelectiveList customList = new SystemSelectiveList(environment);
+            customList.SetItemValueType(PropertyTypes.String);
+            customList.AddSelectiveItem("any object of supported type", "description");
+            customList.Name = "SL_STR";
+            customList.SetUID(GuidUtility.SLSTR);
+            selectiveLists.Add(customList);
+            return selectiveLists;
+        }
+        #endregion System Selective Lists
+        // ...
+    }
+}
+</syntaxhighlight>
+</div></div>
+= Perform pre- or postprocessing scripts =
+In some cases, one has to perform an action before the database is adjusted, or postprocess the upgrade.
+It is also possible to execute code whenever the environment is initialized, even if no upgrade was necessary.
+<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%; overflow:auto;">
+<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Scripting template code</div>
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
+<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
+namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
+{
+    public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
+    {
+        // ...
+        public override void PreProcessDatabaseUpdate(Version previousVersion, UBIKEnvironment environment)
+        {
+            base.PreProcessDatabaseUpdate(previousVersion, environment);
+            // This code will be executed whenever the system is upgraded,
+            // before a schema upgrade for this SystemDefinitions package
+        }
+        public override void PostProcessDatabaseUpdate(Version previousVersion, UBIKEnvironment environment)
+        {
+            base.PostProcessDatabaseUpdate(previousVersion, environment);
+            // This code will be executed whenever the system is upgraded,
+            // after a schema upgrade and before content initialization and upgrade
+            // for this SystemDefinitions package
+        }
+        public override void InitializeSystemContent(UBIKEnvironment env)
+        {
+            base.InitializeSystemContent(env);
+            // This code will be executed whenever the system is initialized,
+            // after an optional schema upgrade and before an optional content adaptation
+            // for this SystemDefinitions package
+        }
+        public override void UpdateSystemContent(UBIKEnvironment env)
+        {
+            base.UpdateSystemContent(env);
+            // This code will be executed whenever the system is upgraded,
+            // after all other steps for this SystemDefinitions package
+        }
+        // ...
+    }
+}
+</syntaxhighlight>
+</div></div>
+= Create a custom InterfaceAdmin =
+This is one of the most complex things you can do in this topic.
+That's because an InterfaceAdmin object has the following interesting aspects:
+* It is an instance of the INTERFACE_ADMIN (Meta)MetaClass
+* It is a MetaClass itself
+* A custom implementation must derive from the INTERFACE_ADMIN_ROOT
+* It produces special instances called InterfaceExecution
+* Any functional InterfaceAdmin runtime object must be an instance of InterfaceAdministration
+The last point is crucial, because this makes our task difficult.
+After all, we use SystemDesignMetaClass to define MetaClasses, and this directly conflicts with the last requirement.
+The way to solve this is to deliver a non-functional class we only use as a basis, and then derive a regular object from it.
+<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%; overflow:auto;">
+<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">InterfaceAdmin template code</div>
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
+<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
+namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
+{
+    public class MyInterfaceAdminBase : SystemDesignMetaClass
+    {
+        public static new Guid UID = GuidUtility.INTERFACE_ADMIN_UID_BASE;
+        private const string NAME = "BASE_IFA";
+        private const string NAMESPACE = "System.MyPlugin.Interface.Administration";
+        private const string DESCRIPTION = "Base Class of Custom Interface Admin";
+        public MyInterfaceAdminBase(UBIKEnvironment environment)
+        {
+            InitUidAndEnvironment(UID, environment);
+            InitStrings(NAME, NAMESPACE, DESCRIPTION);
+            SetModuleId(MyPlugin.ID);
+            List<Guid> metaProperties = new List<Guid>();
+            DefineMetaProperties(metaProperties);
+        }
+        public override MetaClass MetaClass
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                // The current class is an instance of the Interface Admin MetaClass; an individual Interface Administration object.
+                return this.Environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.INTERFACE_ADMINISTRATION);
+            }
+        }
+        public override MetaClass Inheritance
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                // The current class derives from the default Interface Admin, which is also the MetaClass of all Interface Execution objects.
+                // Likewise, the current class is a MetaClass for Interface Execution objects.
+                return this.Environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.INTERFACE_EXECUTION);
+            }
+            set
+            {
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            }
+        }
+        public override MetaClassTypes ClassType
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                return MetaClassTypes.DEFINED_IN_PLUGIN;
+            }
+            set
+            {
+                // do nothing
+            }
+        }
+        public override string RuntimeTypeName => GetRuntimeType().FullName;
+        public override string SystemRuntimeTypeName => GetSystemRuntimeType().FullName;
+        public override Type GetSystemRuntimeType()
+        {
+            return typeof(MyInterfaceExecution);
+        }
+        public override Type GetRuntimeType()
+        {
+            return typeof(MyInterfaceExecution);
+        }
+        // Required for MetaClasses that have a very special MetaClass themselves
+        protected override MetaClass DeliverMetaMetaClassInstance()
+        {
+            return MetaClass;
+        }
+    }
+}
+</syntaxhighlight>
+</div></div>
+<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%; overflow:auto;">
+<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">InterfaceExecution runtime type template code</div>
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
+<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
+namespace UBIK.MyPlugin.InterfaceExecutors
+{
+    public class MyInterfaceExecution : InterfaceExecution
+    {
+        protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetExternalDataReader()
+        {
+            return new ThirdPartySystemWebAPIClientReader(Environment);
+        }
+        protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetExternalDataWriter()
+        {
+            return new ThirdPartySystemWebAPIClientWriter(Environment);
+        }
+        protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetExternalPollingExecutor()
+        {
+            return new ThirdPartySystemWebAPIClientPoller(Environment);
+        }
+        protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetExportExecutor()
+        {
+            return new MyExportExecutor(Environment);
+        }
+        protected override IInterfaceExecutor GetImportExecutor()
+        {
+            return new MyImportExecutor(Environment);
+        }
+    }
+}
+</syntaxhighlight>
+</div></div>
+<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%; overflow:auto;">
+<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">SystemDefinitions adaptations</div>
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
+<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">
+namespace UBIK.MyPlugin
+{
+    public class MySystemDefinitions_V100 : SystemDefinitionsBase
+    {
+        // ...
+        #region System Content
+        public override void UpdateSystemContent(UBIKEnvironment environment)
+        {
+            base.UpdateSystemContent(environment);
+            // Create our own custom interface admin from the base class we described.
+            MetaClass mc = environment.GetSystemMetaClass(SystemObjects.INTERFACE_ADMINISTRATION);
+            InterfaceAdministration ifa = environment.UBIKDataFactory().GetBaseObject(mc, GuidUtility.INTERFACE_ADMIN_UID_CUSTOM) as InterfaceAdministration;
+            if (ifa == null)
+            {
+                ifa = (InterfaceAdministration)environment.UBIKDataFactory().MetaClass(GuidUtility.INTERFACE_ADMIN_UID_BASE).CreateNewDerivate(GuidUtility.INTERFACE_ADMIN_UID_CUSTOM);
+                ifa.Name = "MY_IFA";
+                ifa.Description = "Custom Interface Admin";
+                ifa.Namespace = "Custom.MyPlugin.Interface.Administration";
+                ifa.ClassType = MetaClassTypes.Inherited;
+                ifa.Save();
+            }
+            Relationship relation = environment.GetSystemRelation(SystemObjects.RELATION_INTERFACE_ADMIN_METAPROXY);
+            MetaProxy target = (MetaProxy)environment.UBIKDataFactory().MetaClass(GuidUtility.MY_PROXY);
+            if(ifa.IsAddRelationAllowed(relation, target))
+            {
+                ifa.AddRelation(relation, target);
+                ifa.Save();
+            }
+        }
+        #endregion System Content
          // ...
@@ Line 725: / Line 1,056: @@
 * [[HowTo:Create_UBIK_Module|Create your own module]]
+* [[Injection_Management]]
-[[Category:How-To]]
+* [[Plugins]]
-[[Category:Module]]
 [[Category:How-To|Provide system definitions with a custom plugin]]
+[[Category:Injecting|Provide system definitions with a custom plugin]]
 [[Category:Module|Provide system definitions with a custom plugin]]
+[[Category:Plugin|Provide system definitions with a custom plugin]]

Difference between revisions of "HowTo:Provide system definitions with a custom plugin"

Latest revision as of 11:09, 28 February 2025

General concept

Prerequisites

Instructions

Big Picture

Create a new plugin

Create a new SystemDefinitionProvider

Create a new SystemDefinitions package

Add a new basic MetaClass

Add a new special MetaClass

Add new arbitrary instances

Provide a version upgrade

Create a new MetaProxy

Create a system classification

Create a system SelectiveList

Perform pre- or postprocessing scripts

Create a custom InterfaceAdmin

See also